“About this? Yes, I am,” Lorenzo said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I cannot believe you are advocating for Diego to get involved in the business.”

Sam rolled her eyes. “I’m not telling you to slap a gun into his hand and send him out on a hit, Lorenzo! All I am saying is that Diego needs to feel like he’s a part of this family.”

“Samantha, he is a part of this family! He does not need to be a part of the business!” Lorenzo said adamantly. “Diego is too young and too strong headed to understand how the business works. I want him to finish high school and go to college. Make a better life for himself.”

Sam could see where Lorenzo was coming from but she needed for him to understand where Diego was coming from. “Lorenzo, can you stop saying no for a moment and just listen?”

Sighing, Lorenzo nodded. “Fine,” he said.

“Okay. I don’t think Diego should be involved in the thick of the business Lorenzo, all I am saying is that Diego needs to feel wanted; a part of what’s going on. He’s seventeen! He doesn’t want to be treated like a child,” Sam said. “Diego has spent his life being moved from one foster family to another since he was a child. The woman who he loved as a sister – who he believed was his sister – lied to him all of his life. And then he finds out he has a father who never knew about him. A whole family he was never a part of. He has a real sister this time that was pretty much raised by her father. An uncle and cousin he would never know. He just wants to feel like he belongs.”

Lorenzo took in all that Samantha was saying. He nodded. “Alright. I do understand where you are coming from with this Samantha,” he said slowly. “And what do you suggest I do?” Lorenzo was slightly stunned that Diego was feeling left out – being that, at first, he had wanted nothing to do with Lorenzo being his father.

“Well, I think that instead of pushing him away – and you are doing that Lorenzo,” Sam added when Lorenzo started to protest. “Just give him small tasks that make him a part of things. A currier or something like that. Come on Lorenzo, there has to be something he can do that doesn’t put him in the line of fire.”

“I’ll think about it,” Lorenzo said, knowing he was going to have to give in before his son decided to go out and do something on his own – thereby getting himself into even more trouble.

“Good. Now, I have another bone to pick with you,” Sam said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Lorenzo sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Samantha, if this is about my plan with Faith . . .”

“It’s not. Well, not directly. This has to do with neither you nor Jason bothering to inform Jessica about your plans with Faith.”

Lorenzo looked down at his sister. “Jason and I actually discussed this and thought it was best she not know,” he said.

”Well, being that you and Jason actually spoke and agreed on something, that’s good. And it would have worked had you informed me.”

“You told her?”

“Yes! Well, she’s the one who brought it up,” Sam said in defense at Lorenzo’s look. “Sort of.”

Lorenzo sighed. “Samantha, she doesn’t need the added stress.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed that,” Sam said as she rolled her eyes. “And she seemed okay with the idea as long as you didn’t get hurt again. In fact, she asked me to watch your back. And Jason’s too.”

Lorenzo couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips.

*~*~*~*~*

Jason sat at his desk in his penthouse. He was going over the material from The Cellar, but his mind kept wandering. Leaning back in his chair, Jason rubbed at his face. It had been a long day and evening and it wasn’t over yet. Alcazar was on his way to go over the plans for that night’s meeting with Faith, and they needed to be ready. But Jason couldn’t focus at the moment.

Taking his hands from his face, Jason got up and decided that a beer and a quick game of pool would help to clear his head. Grabbing the bottle from the fridge, Jason sipped the cold liquid, feeling it slide down his throat as he looked over the pool table. Setting the beer down on the edge of the table, he racked up the balls and grabbed a stick, lining up his shot. Moving around the table, Jason’s eyes fell on the picture of him and Jessica that was on his mantle. Carly had insisted on the picture, and Jason was actually glad that he had taken it. The picture had been his saving grace while Jessica was gone. It kept him from going insane as his heart ached for the woman he loved.

~ Flashback ~

“Come on Jason, it’s not going to kill you,” Carly insisted as she held the camera and gave Jason her best pout.

“No Carly,” Jason said with a sigh. “You know I hate taking pictures.”

“How can you hate taking pictures? I mean, you have pictures in your apartment.”

“Yeah, of other people because you put them there,” Jason said. “No.”

“How can you keep saying no, Jason? Don’t you want this reminder how much the two of you love each other?”

~ End of Flashback ~

This was one time when Jason was glad that Carly had insisted on the picture. Returning to the game, Jason found his eyes wandering back to the mantle again, and another picture, this one smaller, but just as special. Putting the stick down, Jason walked over to the small black and white photo, picking it up and walking to the couch with it. A smile came to his lips as he remembered when he got the picture.

~ Flashback ~

Jessica slowly let out the breath she had been holding and looked down at Jason’s hand over hers. Without saying anything, she used her free hand to lift the poncho from her body and took their joined hands, placing them over her belly. Only when his hand was splayed over the slight roundness there and she heard him pull in a breath, did she look up into his blue eyes: eyes that mirrored the ocean she used to spend hours staring at over the last four months.

Jason looked up at her, his eyes wide and watched as Jessica smiled and nodded. “Yes Jason, I’m pregnant. I found out just after I left. This is the main reason why I came home. I want you to know and be a part of our daughter’s life.”

For the first time since Jessica had left, Jason felt a smile coming to his lips. He swallowed past the dryness in his throat before he could speak. “A daughter?” was all he managed to get out.

Smiling, Jessica nodded. She then opened her bag and pulled out the last sonogram picture and handed it to him. Jason took it and looked down. He was able to make out the baby’s head and hands. He looked back up at Jessica. “Thank you,” he said.

“For what?” she asked, wiping at the tears that were pooling in her eyes.

“For this,” he said, looking back down at the picture. “For coming home and letting me be a part of her life.”

~ End Flashback ~

Jason sighed. Of course there had been other appointment and pictures, but this was the first picture he had of his daughter. As he looked at the picture and let the memories wash over him, Jason made up his mind.

He was going to ask Jessica to marry him.

*~*~*~*~*

“So, how are you holding up?” Sam asked Skye as the two women walked through the park. Sam had called Skye to check on the other woman, knowing that she probably needed someone to talk to.

“As best as I could, I guess,” Skye said with a small smile and a shrug. “I’m still getting used to the whole idea.”

Sam shook her head. “You shouldn’t have to be getting used to it Skye,” she said tensely. “You should be pissed, you should be venting how unfair and wrong this all is.”

Skye stopped walking and faced the younger woman. “Believe me; I have done that Sam, in my own way. But getting angry and vengeful is not going to keep Lorenzo from being killed. I promised I would support him on this. You know, this isn’t easy for him either.”

Sam gave Skye a lot of credit. She didn’t think – no, she knew – she would never be able to stay this calm if the roles were reversed.

*~*~*~*~*

Lorenzo glanced at his watch as he walked. He still had some time to kill before meeting with Jason – a thought that had him shaking his head. If someone had told him a month ago that he and Jason Morgan would be working together on a common goal, he would have thought they were crazy. Hell, Lorenzo thought he was crazy for doing it, but he did have to admit that Jason was good at what he did. Jason was proving to Lorenzo – without even knowing he was doing it – that he is more than a hit man. Jason had a hand in every part of the business. Lorenzo hoped that, for his sake, Sonny recognized and appreciated that Jason was so loyal to him.v
Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Lorenzo decided to check in on Jessica. He had some things he needed to say to his daughter.

*~*~*~*~*

“What is your problem, Brooke?” Diego asked frustration laced in his voice. He had just finished telling her about his conversation with Sam and had been expecting a different reaction from her.

“Diego, you just stood here and told me that your aunt is going to talk to your father about you being involved in the “family business” and you’re asking me what my problem is?” Brooke Lynn asked in disbelief.

“Come on, Brooke, you’re the one who wanted me to get to know my father and be a part of my family! Now that I am, you don’t want me to! Will you make up your mind?”

“Fine! I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be that involved! I mean, you’re living with your sister and have a relationship with your father. Why can’t that be enough? Why do you have to be involved in the criminal aspect of it as well?”

Diego stared at Brooke a moment. He shook his head. He was not going to do this with her.

*~*~*~*~*

Lorenzo nodded to Ramon, who was outside the door to his daughter’s apartment. “Is anyone in there with her?” he asked, his hand on the doorknob.

“Dr. Meadows arrived about ten minutes ago,” Ramon said.

Nodding again, Lorenzo pushed open the door, seeing Jessica in the living room. “What are you doing out of bed?” he asked.

Jessica looked up. “Hello to you too Dad,” she answered with a smile.

“Jessica, this is not funny,” Lorenzo said. “You’re not supposed to be out of bed. Where’s Dr. Meadows?”

“Right here, Mr. Alcazar,” Dr. Meadows said as she walked out of the bathroom, drying her hands on a hand towel.

Lorenzo went over to the woman and pulled her into the small kitchenette. “Is it safe for her to be up and around?” he asked.

Dr. Meadows smiled. “Yes. I just examined her and Jessica and the baby are doing very well. Her blood pressure is down and steady. I don’t see the harm in allowing Jessica to move around a little more.”

“And it’s safe?” Lorenzo asked.

“Yes, it is. I’m not saying I want her walking around town. The apartment is fine for now and I will continue to monitor their progress.”

Lorenzo thanked the doctor and walked her to the door. Then he turned to his daughter.

“Satisfied now that you had a chance to grill my doctor?” Jessica asked teasingly.

Lorenzo smiled and nodded. He walked over to the couch and sat on the other end. “So, how are you really feeling?” he asked.

“Better,” she said simply. “And glad to be out of that bed – even if I only traded it for the couch.”

Lorenzo looked over at his daughter. She was beautiful; she was practically glowing. “You look happy,” he said.

“That’s because I am, Dad. My baby is doing fine. I get to move without being yelled at by everyone. And you and Jason seem to be getting along a lot better.”

“I know Samantha told you what I’m doing.”

“She did,” Jessica said, watching her father’s face. “Dad, are you sure about this? I mean, giving up Skye for that witch? I will admit, Dad, that I was very surprised.”

“I love Skye, Jessica. And I know this is hard on her. It’s just as hard on me as well. But Faith is not going to stop and I will not allow her to hurt you or anyone else I care about,” Lorenzo said. “It is killing me to not be with Skye. To know that I have hurt her. And I only hope she understands and knows how much I love her.”

“She does, Dad,” Jessica said as she put her hand over her father’s. “Skye was here earlier. She is determined to see you through this.”

Lorenzo nodded. “I have never loved another woman like this since your mother,” he said softly, almost to himself.

“I know, Dad,” Jessica whispered. “And you deserve Skye’s love. She understands you. She is there for you. And she loves you.”

Lorenzo smiled. “Thank you sweetheart,” he said, leaning over and kissing her on her cheek. “Okay, there are some things I want to talk to you about,” he added.

Jessica’s eyebrow went up. “Should I be worried?” she asked, hoping he wasn’t going to try to convince her that Jason was not right for her.

“No. Jessica, experiencing Skye’s love and seeing her support me through this, has made me realize how much you and Jason mean to each other,” he said.

“Are you serious?” Jessica asked in surprise.

“Very. I know now how unreasonable I was being, trying to keep the two of you apart,” Lorenzo began. “But you’re not a child anymore Jessica. You’re a beautiful, independent, strong woman – just like your mother. You have shown me that you can live your life the way you want – that you can make decisions for your life. I have watched you fight for your love, for your daughter and for your life.” Lorenzo stopped a moment and let out a breath before bringing his eyes back to his daughter’s. “I will no longer stand in your way Jessica. I want you to be happy and if that means building a life with Jason . . . then you have my blessing and I will not interfere.”